Disclaimer: No I don't own Lord of the Rings and I don't plan to use this story for profit.  If that does happen I am sure the great J.R.R. Tolkien will rise from his grave and make sure that my muses somehow turn against me. 

They walked in a northerly direction or at least they guessed at North because they saw moss on that side of a tree.  Then they came to a tree, which had moss covering all sides so they took a vote and designated their walk was northerly.  Enjoying the walk they took in the sights and sounds of the forest keeping a wary eye about for danger.  They eventually found an old worn path and followed that for the time.  Daylight started to wane and the girls slowed their walk.

            Alex sat on a rock; "we should set some kind of camp for the night."

            "Good idea," Sarah said sitting next to her.

            Leaning against a nearby tree Kristi said, "these trees should provide enough cover.  We should sleep in shifts so that at least one of us can keep watch."  Sarah and Alex look to her grinning.  "Fine, fine I'll take first watch."

            "Thank you," Alex said smirking.

            "Yes thanks," Sarah said.  "Since you volunteered and all."

            Kristi just folded her arms giving them a look.  The sun set and Alex and Sarah were huddled in their jackets, which they wrapped around them.  Kristi had her chin in her hand telling herself not to go to sleep when he heard faint singing.  Raising her head she mumbled, "Great now I'm delusional."  But hearing the singing increase she shook Alex and Sarah awake.

            "Huh?  My shift already?" Sarah asked sleepily.

            Alex swatted Kristi's hand saying, "Alex is sleeping she's not here right now."

            Kristi, with the help of Sarah, managed to awaken Alex who blinked.  "Do you guys hear singing?"

            Sarah turned to Kristi, "is this why you woke us up?"

            Kristi nodded.

            The three of them followed the noise and crouched beside a big tree their eyes wide. 

            "It's an Elven procession," Alex said in awe.

            The three of them stared captivated by the beautiful sight.

            "I wonder where they came from?" Sarah whispered.

            "We should ask them," Alex whispered back.

            "We?" Kristi asked innocently.

            "Yes we," Alex whispered back.  "Come on."

            Kristi shrugged to Sarah who shrugged back and they followed her. 

            Sarah said quietly to Alex, "since you know Elvish you should talk to them."

            Kristi nodded, "yeah, find out where they came from and maybe they can point us in that direction.  We need to find some way to get back home."

            Alex nodded determined as the three walked over to the procession, which paused seeing them.

            "Venduì," Alex called out to them.  "Elvellyn," she said motioning to herself, Sarah, and Kristi.

            The Elves exchanged glances and spoke rapidly amongst themselves.  They signaled somewhere and Elven archers came out from the trees lowering their bows. 

            Sarah muttered, "Funny…didn't notice those guys before."

            Kristi gave her a look.

            A blonde haired elf stepped forward.  "Identify yourselves and your intentions of travel."

            "I'm Alex," and motioning to the others, "and they are Sarah and Kristi."

            "And our intentions are to find someplace where we can rest and hopefully find a way to get back home," Sarah spoke up.

            Kristi folded her arms looking to the elf.  "Okay, now that we've identified ourselves. . .and clearly are unarmed and no threat to you. . .may we inquire your name?"

            "I am Haldir of Lorien," he said.  "I am on an expedition that does not concern you. . ."

            Alex, Sarah, and Kristi all blinked upon hearing his name.  Haldir shifted slightly as they stared at him. 

            Sarah cleared her throat and Alex spoke up, "where are we anyway?"

            Haldir raised an eyebrow. . .three female humans traveling about with no weapons, strange clothing, and no map. . .this was odd indeed.

            "You are near the borderlands of Rohan," he said.  He then pointed south, "If you continue southward you will eventually come upon the city of Edoras.  There you may find refuge and a place to find horses to speed you on your way."

            Sarah's eyes seemed to light up at the mention of horses.

            "Thank you," Alex said smiling.  "Namarie."

            Kristi watched them ride away and she smacked her forehead, then smacked Alex and Sarah.  "Do you realize how screwed we are?!"

            "Ponies," Sarah said simply.

            "We don't have any right now," Kristi said bursting her bubble.

            "Ponies," Sarah mumbled.

            Alex, trying to make the best of things, "well we know that we have to head south.  We can't be that far away from Edoras.  They wouldn't just leave us in the middle-of-nowhere."

            "They just did!  We have no weapons, no food, except for some mints and a stick of gum I have in my purse, and we're going to have to walk!"  She ran her fingers through her hair and took a breath, "I need a sword."

            Sarah paused, "you have mints and a stick of gum?"

            Alex chimed in, "have you been holding out on us?"

            Kristi blinked, "um. . .er. . .no. . .of course not."

            They both stared at her as she shifted slightly.

            "Kristi. . ." they said in a warning tone.

            "South!" she said running in that direction.

            "Hey!" Alex said running after her.

            "Thou shalt not get away that easily," Sarah said running after them.

            Haldir watched from afar shaking his head with a chuckle, "dess."

            Many, many hours passed of walking.  The sun beat down on them relentlessly, even though they navigated the shadows of trees when they came to them.  They hadn't found a road per se, but had been following a barely visible trail through wilderness.  Kristi had since split what food she had in her purse, of course out of the goodness of her heart.  Though of course the goodness of her heart was threatened when Sarah and Alex threatened to pull it out and beat her over the head with it.  As interesting as an image that may have been, needless to say it did not happen because their bond of friendship would not be split over a few mints and a stick of gum.  However, given a few more grams of sugar and some caffeine. . .there may have been a full scale war. 

            "Are we there yet?" Kristi asked in a joking, yet exhausted manner.

            "No," Alex and Sarah said wearily at the same time.

            They stopped at a few small streams, taking in what water they could.  They were a bit hesitant about drinking, wondering if they could boil it.  But after a failed attempt at making fire they didn't care anymore.  Eventually they stopped, each vowing to keep watch, but they ended up falling asleep together.

            Morning came and Sarah woke up to the sound of splashing.

            "What in the nine hells is that?" Alex asked sleepily waking up.

            Kristi had since discovered they were near a river and was intent on catching fish.  "Wake up sleepy heads!"

            Sarah stood, walked over to the river, stared for a moment, and then walked back to Alex.  "Kristi is fishing."

            "What do you mean fishing?" Alex asked.

            They both watched, as Kristi was knee deep in water. . .a rock in one hand and the other in the water.  "Here fishy, fishy, fishy," she said.

            "Kristi you've finally cracked," Alex said.

            Sarah nodded, "and we thought we were bad."

            "You guys will be thanking me once I catch a fish," Kristi said with determination. 

            "Um. . ."Alex said.

            "Kristi," Sarah said as nicely as possible.  "What are you planning on cooking it with?"

            Kristi visibly paused for a moment and dropped the rock. . .actually trapping a fish, but she didn't notice.  "Well. . .I never said we were going to eat it."  She waded out of the water and sheepishly put her shoes and socks back on.

            Alex shook her head, "what are they putting in the water?"

            Sarah thought for a moment, "good question.  After all we did drink what she did."

            Kristi stood up and smirked at Sarah's words.  But her smirk faltered when she noticed a fish jump up from the water and back down. . .almost as if in defiance causing Alex and Sarah to burst out in laughter.  Kristi shook her fist at the fish, trying to suppress giggles of her own.

            "I'll get you, you damn fish!" Kristi said staring at it.  "I will smite you!"

            A swift rush of wind is heard and the fish is suddenly skewered into a nearby tree, thanks to an arrow.

            Everyone's laughter stops abruptly and jaws simultaneously fall open.  

            "You smote it!" Alex said.

            "How the hell did you do that?!" Sarah asked.

            "I don't know!  I've never smote anything before!"

            "It was a good shot. . ." Alex commented trailing off.

            "Thank you," a voice said.

            The three whipped their heads around to the voice and their eyes widened in surprise. 

            "Legolas?!" Alex asked.

            Legolas stepped out from behind a tree.  A little smile was on his lips, but an expression of curiosity was evident across his features.  Aragorn stepped out from behind him, sword in hand, but sheathed it seeing the girls. 

            Gimli shoved them aside grumbling, "What are we stoppin' for?"  He looked shocked seeing the girls.

            Gandalf was the last to step forward.  His face was a blend of surprise, yet had an aura of knowing about it.  If they didn't know any better, they'd have guessed he knew about their coming. 

            "Last we knew," Aragorn said, "you three were in Rivendell."

            "We we're," Sarah said.

            Gandalf looked to them, "did you three make it home?"

            "Yes," Kristi said nodding.  "After a little bit of difficulty we did, only to come back here once more.  We're heading to Rohan, because it's the nearest city."

            Legolas exchanged a glance with the others.  "That is our destination as well.  You should travel with us."

            Alex smiled, "thank you."

            Aragorn walked over to them, looking them over.  "Where are your weapons?  Supplies?  Means of travel?"

            Sarah muttered, "I knew we forgot something."

            Kristi looked to him, "we weren't expecting to return here.  In our home we didn't have to carry our weapons around wherever we went.  It was a bit of surprise that we ended up here."  She absently rubbed her arm.

            "I see," Gandalf said.  "You've come back at a difficult time.  Rohan may not be the safe haven you hope it to be. . .however it may be safer than the wilds.  Let us go."

            He whistled and a white horse came through the foliage, followed by two others. 

            Alex and Kristi stifled giggles when Sarah said very softly, "ponies!"

            Legolas placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "You can ride with myself and Gimli.  He can take the rear, while you can sit in front of me."

            Gimli gave a grunt of agreeing, while Alex grinned happily.

            Kristi looked to Aragorn who nodded.

            "You can ride with me Kristi," Aragorn said.

            "Good," she said.  "I have a few questions about some sword tactics."

            Aragorn seemed to brighten up, as if he finally had someone to talk to about swords that wouldn't get bored.

            Sarah was petting Shadowfax fondly.  Gandalf looked to Alex, gave a lingering look to Kristi, and then walked over to Sarah.  "My steed seems to like you.  You certainly have a way with horses."

            "Let me guess?" Sarah asked.  "I'm riding with you?"

            "Unless you would prefer to ride behind Gimli," Gandalf said with a far too innocent smile.

            "Great, a wizard that's a comedian," Sarah said rolling her eyes.

***

Translations:

(Elvish/English)

Venduì-Greetings

Elvellyn-Elf friends

Namarie-Farewell

Dess-young women

**

Author's Note: Okay, the Elvish to English translations I found online, so they should be fairly accurate.  Next chapter they'll arrive at Edoras.  Again, expect an update in about three days.  Hope you all enjoy! *'Borrows' Gandalf's staff and says a spell so the review button lights up, Gandalf finds the author and she begrudgingly gives it back. . .and grins as Gandalf creates fireworks about the review button*